Fantasy Football: Why Tony Romo and Philip Rivers Should Lead Your Team

If you’re drafting in the late first or second round of your fantasy draft, don’t worry about your quarterback (QB) situation.

Most likely three to four QBs will have been taken already. I’m talking about Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, and/or Tom Brady.

That may be your blessing in disguise, because Tony Romo and Philip Rivers will be the best fantasy QBs this year.

Philip Rivers has one of the best starts to a football season anyone could ask for. In the first nine weeks of the season, he does not play a top 13 ranked defense (rankings by NFL.com) at all. In fact, Rivers plays five of the worst seven ranked defenses during that stretch.

Now that LaDainian Tomlinson is not on the team, Philip is the unquestioned leader of the Chargers' prolific offensive attack. Look for Rivers to post career numbers that surpass last year's stats.

The only trouble Rivers may see will be in Cincinnati the day after Christmas. Cincinnati has a good defense and a talented young secondary that could put a vise grip on Rivers' fantasy numbers, which happens to be the Championship Week (Week 16) for most leagues.

If you’re planning on drafting Rivers, look for a QB with a better matchup in Week 16 for plan B in case of bad weather. Don’t get caught sticking your tongue on a frozen pole.

Now on the other hand, if you like blondes and barbecued ribs, then Tony Romo is your man. Although Romo does not have the favorable matchups that Philip Rivers has during the course of the year, he does have the best fantasy matchups during Championship Weeks (14, 15, and 16).

He is the only QB of the Top Six (Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers) that is playing two home games and an away game that is indoors.

The Cowboys play the Cardinals in Week 16 in Arizona. The Cowboys-Cardinals game in Arizona is traditionally another home game for the Cowboys due to the large following and fanbase for the Cowboys in Arizona. Romo has played the Cardinals in Arizona twice in his career, and each time he has put up 300-plus passing yards and at least two touchdowns.

Selecting Romo will hopefully mean that you have already chosen a top-tier running back or receiver, because he will not post better season numbers than the other five top QBs. That being said, he will have the best week 14, 15, and 16 stats out of everyone. Get in your fantasy playoffs and let Tony be the tiger on your team.